The Legacy of Earth #053639 – Chronicle of the Second Engagement

I was not a part of the first conflict but brought in to handle battles when the money was right. Things on the source Earth have become scarce, hot and fiercely… debated over. The offer came at the right time so I jumped on the dimensional coordinates I was given.

The satellite view I got when I arrived showed an Earth already scarred by conflict. Some stragglers have already founded another holy city as well as others around the planet and the western part of what we call the United States have already been severely depleted of valuable resources.

I was hired to command the Imperial forces who jumped into New Guinea. When we touched down, reports where already confirming Mechaniker forces in Africa, spewing out of the city erected there. A Bear Enclave was formed in south America, the Republic started haphazardly in North America while Khan Industries took over Iceland.

The Mechaniker started by spreading over Africa and the Middle East. My first order of business was to harness local support in Australia and establish a foot hold in south east Asia. The Bears’ commander, having heard the stories about the Mechaniker general, took hold of south America and rushed into Africa, hoping to stall the previous victor from acting another land grab. The Saharan Republic, spreading thinly over north America and facing two fronts (Panama and the north sea pass), opted to invade the Kamchatkan peninsula, presenting me with an enemy in the north. Khan’s troops took over Europe, also spreading too thinly for my taste, but did not invade poorly protected Greenland. The details of the agreements that safeguarded the Americas escape me to this day.

While the Saharan and Bear leaders were unknown to me, I knew the people behind the Mechaniker and Khan forces and they were, frankly, honourable men. I’ve sent missives to Mech headquarters announcing a fragile non aggression pact (which, surprisingly, lasted the length of the conflict). The two next important things were to break the European and north American alliances. Those two continents could serve up too much cannon fodder for me to feel good about. A swift and effective invasion into separatist Russia took care of one army while a massive a assault on the Alaskan peninsula took care of the other.

I established a fierce hold of east Asia while the Mechs and the Bears fought over the African American link. Subtle diplomacy on my part (if that’s what you call the method of the stick and the other sick) kept the Saharans and Khan off my back and at each other’s throats.

I thought that was my time to shine, having prepared a massive invasion force to hit either the Icelandic or eastern US headquarters. But soon after another tug of war over the African lands, the Saharans pulled out the ace, diverted troops to Mexico and rushed the Brazilian HQ for complete dominance. It was game over for us.

Several more independent cities rose from the ashes of the conflict. I’d like to take credit for Hong Kong Elite, having established a well supplied forward base there. But the victor turned his prize into a narcissistic monument to himself and the new Brazilian mega city.

I can’t say I completely failed. A supply line that stretches from the Outback, through the Chinese and east Soviet ranges, all the way to Alberta is not a walk in the park. But this assignment was over and I had nothing to do but wait to be called again. Those Saharans, for example, are pretty mean sons of bitches. I wouldn’t mind seeing what they can do with my guidance.


Posted in Gaming, Geekdom, Stories by with comments disabled.

Pingbacks & Trackbacks